NEO: The World Ends with You is everything a fan of the series could ever ask for in a sequel. It feels modern and contemporary without losing what made the original unique.
The gameplay is fun, the narrative and its characters are great, and the art direction is absolutely beautiful. The pros here vastly outweigh the cons. Ghost of Tsushima is a breathtaking adventure.
Xenoblade Chronicles X was already one of the Wii U’s best games, and this Definitive Edition does more than enough to justify another trip to planet Mira.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an amazing JRPG, with a deep story and fun gameplay that will keep players engaged for many hours.
Persona 3 Reload is a win-win of a remake for old and new Persona fans alike.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance makes one of the best open-world RPGs around even better.
Shadow of the Erdtree is so packed with new content that it almost feels like a sequel to Elden Ring.
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is a morbidly engrossing tactics RPG that takes the right notes from Danganronpa.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is an epic tale with a vibrant world within its walls. With its tried and true gameplay, this latest entry nimbly balances familiarity with the rush of innovation.
This neon-soaked mystery game is Kodaka's best work to date.
In any case, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is absolutely wonderful all around. Each of the 13 protagonists gets relatively equal screen time, and they’re all brought to life by both the great English and Japanese voice tracks. You’re sure to have your favorites, but it’s incredibly satisfying to see how each of their stories intersects through time and space and coalesces into the battle for mankind against the alien invaders. This is one adventure you simply don’t want to miss.
Persona 5 Strikers is a fantastic sequel to the original game. It's fun, stylish, and sleek, a road trip to remember.
Gnosia draws similarities to games like Among Us and Zero Escape, but ultimately crafts a unique story with a crew of memorable characters.
Stray isn't just a game about a cat trying to get home, but one about an even greater adventure. And doing cat things.
Returnal is undoubtedly one of Housemarque’s best games and is a triumph for the PlayStation 5. The premise is interesting right off the bat, and the way the game feeds narrative breadcrumbs throughout the game only made me want to continue on. With the tight gameplay that the studio is known for, along with an intriguing story and blockbuster presentation, Housemarque hits all the right spots. Returnal sits as one of PlayStation’s most unique exclusives.
It may sound reductive, but Elden Ring is a fourth mainline Dark Souls title in all but name. The game’s open-world structure feels very organic - there aren’t lists of activities with checkboxes that players need to cross off. The Lands Between is filled with visually stunning locations and deadly enemies to ensure that the perilous journey to become the Elden Lord is at least pretty to look at. While Elden Ring stumbles a bit in some areas, it still has all the hallmarks of what makes FromSoftware’s games so enticing: it’s fun, challenging, and rewarding.
Despite some pacing issues, it has an emotional story and teases some exciting developments for future games. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is definitely one of the best games of 2023 and certainly a top-tier console exclusive for PS5.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a standout game in 2024 in how its different gameplay styles work surprisingly well with each other... With its gorgeous classic Japanese folklore aesthetic, it’s just as pleasing to look at as it is fun to play.
'Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth' manages to mostly avoid the pitfalls that come with being a direct sequel of a video game. While the story can sometimes have pacing issues and feel bloated, its incredible cast of characters, fun gameplay, and amazing side content make it an unforgettable adventure.
‘Sonic x Shadow Generations’ is a solid remaster with an awesome tie-in that shows a bright future for the Sonic franchise. It fixes the original game's performance problems, while the new Shadow content is fun and exciting to play.